Last Man in Tower [Hardcover]

The accumulation of personal wealth at the expense of the group or community has been one of the great conflicts of modern times. Families and friends are separated by modern capitalism causing them to lose their connections and a source of important social and emotional support. Masterji is a retired schoolteacher whose wife has recently died as did his daughter some years ago. His remaining child, a son, is living in another part of the city and contact with him is infrequent. Masterji’s apartment located in Vishram, Tower A, is the last connection he has to his wife and daughter. It is also the location where his best friend, Mr. Pinto and his wife, Mr. Pinto live as well as most of his acquaintances. The Vishram community also provides him a continued sense of purpose because he tutors the young people there are school. When Dharmen Shah, a local builder and developer, offers the residents a very generous price for their apartments, they are very excited by the new world that material wealth will open to them. Everyone, that is, except Masterji. Money means nothing to him compared to his continuing proximity to friends and the last memories of his wife and daughter. The problem for the residents though is that everyone must agree to the sale. Otherwise, it cannot take place. The book reads a little bit like the play “Waiting for Godot” where the audience watches for an event that will never happen. More than once, I would look at how far I’d gone and how much was left in the book and wondered, where on earth is he going to take this? Fortunately, the power of the writing and the turmoil caused by the conflicting emotions created by Dharmen Shah’s offer keeps the story moving. Mr. Adiga makes us care about all the characters and each of the selfish motivations competing with their concern for others. The economic and social upheaval that’s happening in India at this time makes it an ideal setting to explore the universal tension that pervades our lives, the individual versus the group. “The Last Man in the Tower” is a terrific novel about a country moving from Feudalism to the Information Age in a single generation.

Well-written with a touch of humour documenting the human stress of rebuilding and modernizing Mumbai. The characters are well developed and encompass a representative cross section of average person living and working in Mumbai.

Mumbai immersion: many unique characters, florid fragrant similes, turns of phrase wafting out the sari. There are gems that snag like 'Eighteen years old. Never growing yet somehow picking up new things all the time' and 'A man's past keeps growing even when his future has come to a full stop.' These are unassumingly tucked away in passages to be glanced over. Could be a Tragedy with a demonic Greek chorus. Could be an Indian Corrie. However, it became unsettled & disturbing. Built to a dissonant chord and doesn't sit and rest, not sure what to make of it. Still, a fine writer.